BROADCASTS.com

Published: May 24, 2011, 3:12 a.m.

Title of my message today: I\u2019ve Got Friends in Low Places.\xa0

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Characteristics of Friendships in Low Places:

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1.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Build their life on false teaching

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2.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Belong to no one

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3.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Become someone they hate

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4.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Behave based on feelings

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(Psalm 68:5-6)\xa0(CEV) \u201cOur God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper, but all who rebel will live in a scorching desert.\u201d

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(Psalm 68:5-6)\xa0(GOD\u2019S WORD Translation) \u201cThe God who is in his holy dwelling place is the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows. God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives, but rebellious people must live in an unproductive land.\u201d

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Having friends in church helps me:

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1.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Build my beliefs

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(Ephesians 4:14)\xa0\u201cThen we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray.\u201d

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(2 Timothy 4:3-4) (LB)\xa0 \u201cThere is going to come a time when people won\u2019t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear.\xa0 They won\u2019t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.\u201d

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2.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Belong to a real family

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\n(Romans 12:3-5)\xa0\u201cFor by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.\u201d \n

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3.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Become all that God wants me to be.

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(Galatians 6:9-10)\xa0(NLT) \u201cSo let\u2019s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don\u2019t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone\u2014especially to those in the family of faith.\u201d

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Are my friends helping me become all God wants me to be?\xa0

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4.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Behave in a Godly way

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(Romans 13:13-14)\xa0\u201cLet us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.\u201d

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5.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Live a bigger life.

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(Psalm 92:12-14)\xa0(NLT) \u201cBut the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord\u2019s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.\u201d